Patterdale looks a prospect in hot Limerick debut

TRAPRISE

The past week proved highly fruitful for local challengers around the country but amongst the many highlights at Limerick on Saturday, a new recruit to racing made a big impression with a belated debut victory as Maureen & Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Erica (Good News-Patterdale Lena) led throughout A3 525-yard victory.

A July 2022 whelp, she is trained for her Clashnevin owners by Pat Guilfoyle and following a string of eye-catching trial spins in preparation for this delayed first race outing, presented in sharp form when swift to stride from trap 5.

Readily establishing a one length lead on the run to the corner with smart early dash, the Mounsey youngster extended her advantage while tackling the turns in slick manner. Easing further clear on the run to halfway, Patterdale Erica ably contained a strong staying effort from Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Florie while posting 28.69 in a two-length score.

With a very noteworthy 17.69 (-10) trial at Thurles on her card and this pleasing debut victory behind her, Erica looks an exciting prospect to follow intently over coming weeks and months!

Cash is still king at Galway

Back to winning ways when fastest in the opening round heats of the Construction Man's A3 525 Yard Stake at Galway on the previous weekend, John O’Meara’s Ballygibbon Cash (Ballymac Cashout-Sive To One) confirmed the form of that fourth career win when again lowering his personal best time in a dominant semi-final display on Friday.

An opening round winner in 28.95 (-20), the April 2022 whelp faced a tricky draw in trap 4 this time with early pace to his inside but despite just a moderate start, the O’Meara charge resisted any damaging move towards the rail before edging his way to the front while rubbing shoulders with a rival to his inside on the run to the opening bend. Displaying the best pace for a one length lead with command of the rails before turning, Ballygibbon Cash would again prove too hot to handle when streaking clear to halfway. Reaching his five and three-quarter length winning margin before tackling the closing bends, an unbeaten passage to this week’s final was completed in a sharp 28.84 (-10).

That winning performance will bring a rise to his career high mark of A1 upon completion of this week’s final but comfortably fastest in each round thus far, clear passage should see Ballygibbon Cash compensate for the upgrade with stake victory.

Tynan double handed in Nancy’s final

The Saturday action at Galway brought semi-finals in the Nancy Tynan Memorial A3 550 and holding strong claims to retain his sponsorship funds in the 12-runner event is trainer PJ Tynan as his Stonepark Tom (Burgess Bucks-Turree Kate) led a brace of runners to this week’s final for the Ballinderry kennels.

Lightly raced as a June 2022 whelp, a three-month absence proved little impediment as the Tynan charged began just behind the lead from his trap four draw and joining a pacesetter to his inside before tackling the opening bend, he forcefully struck the front while turning. Six lengths to the good at halfway, Stonepark Tom ceded late ground to a strong staying rival but full value for his one length victory, posted 30.65 (-10).

Fastest of the qualifiers, he will hold every chance for final victory following what was just a fourth career start on return from a layoff!

Joining his kennelmate in the final, the following semi saw the Sean Hackett owned Port West Maui (Dorotas Wildcat-Rural Maui) headed in the dying strides when going down by a length in 31.03 (-10) but she can retain outside claims this week in support of her faster qualifying companion.

Maasai is magic in Mini Open final

Returning to a busy night of Saturday action at Limerick, the performance of the meeting amidst a host of elite competition came from the Borrisoleigh kennels of Geoff Parnaby as his Tarsna Maasai (Droopys Sydney-Tarsna Rose) scorched a path to stunning victory in the final of the Limerick Getting Out Mini Open 525 Yard Stake.

With an interrupted season having announced his immense raw abilities in a promising start to his career back in the Spring, the July 2022 whelp returned to Limerick for his ninth career start on the previous weekend and greatly impressed when posting a classy 28.31 in semi-final victory. However, ideally housed in trap 6 for Saturday’s final, he would join a tiny minority of stars to break the 28.00 barrier on the Dock Road when leading throughout a commanding final performance.

Producing a smart break, the Parnaby kennel flag bearer immediately took command with slick dash on the run to the corner and never sighting a rival in a visually appealing gallop, stopped the clock in a sublime 27.97! Granted an extended run of well-being for his most respected handler, Tasna Maasai can be a big factor in all upcoming classics of racing!

Finn leaves rivals Grouchy in Hanley A1 opener

The Saturday action at Limerick also brought the commencement of the Adrian Hanley Vet A1 525 and a warm 18-runnner event saw the fastest performance posted by Shane & Luke O’Connell’s Grouchos Finn (Droopys Sydney-Oisin’s Choice) as the John Byrne charge led throughout a quality career best victory.

Swift to stride from his ideal trap 1 draw, the May 2022 whelp immediately displayed the best early pace and reached the corner with two lengths in hand. Easing further clear the backstraight, the Byrne winner maintained a powerful gallop throughout and never sighting a rival, struck the line with two and a half lengths to spare in a new career best of 28.38!